Hello, my name is Nastya! I attended Bible Club for several years in a row.
When I became older, I was invited to be a helper with the Bible Clubs. It was so interesting for me to have the opportunity to serve in this way, and I enjoyed it.
My desire is to help younger generations. It is this desire that motivates me to serve children through Bible Club. I am glad that through this program we have an opportunity to tell children about Jesus and help them. I also enjoy serving because our leadership team is friendly and wonderful to work with.
I am now 20 years old. I help lead the crafts, worship, teach the children to memorize Bible verses, and assist with the necessary clean-up each day.
About Bible Clubs:
Bible Clubs are a week-long program filled with games, songs, lessons, and crafts, all of which help children learn about Jesus’ love for them. Since Summit Missions International hosted the first club in 1994, the program has continued to grow, reaching more children, in many cities and villages. This summer, 45 churches throughout Transnistria and Moldova are preparing to host Bible Clubs. Many of these churches are small, with limited resources and volunteers to help serve, but the impact of this program is huge. It will reach nearly 3000 children and teens in communities throughout the region this summer with the Gospel.
With the growth, the Bible Club leadership has expanded its reach to teens 14-16 years-old with the goal of inspiring them to pursue a life committed to Christ and equipping them as future leaders in their churches and communities. Like Nastya, these young men and women can learn the importance of living out faith and values, while having a firsthand leadership experience as they assist Bible Club leaders. This directly fulfills SMI’s desire to teach the next generation and equip them for Christian leadership so they can make an eternal impact on generations to come.
There are challenges in openly sharing the Gospel in this part of the world. The evangelical church in this region has fought to survive amid skepticism and persecution. The government views churches not aligned with the Orthodox faith as a sect and requires them to get special permission to hold activities and outreaches in their communities. Only 4.7% of the Moldovan population and less than 1% in Transnistria are evangelical believers. As a result, most individuals have not read the Bible or heard the hope of the Gospel.
Bible Clubs are one of the few ways churches can actively reach children and their families with the Good News of Jesus in this region. The Bible Clubs are proven to deliver a positive reflection of the churches to their communities. This creates a gateway for churches to have future opportunities for on-going ministry and increases respect for them in their cities and villages. Our goal is to see the Bible Club program flourish in communities throughout Transnistria and Moldova, with increased expansion into Ukraine in the coming years.
You can be part of making this goal a reality through sponsorship. Your sponsorship could make a lasting spiritual impact in the life of a child…or an entire community!
Snapshot From the Church Network in Ukraine: Growing Young Faith
Amber Schafer
9/6/2023
Bible Clubs are Making an Impact at New Village Churches
Amber Schafer
8/28/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Fervent in Spirit and Serving the Lord in Ukraine
Amber Schafer
8/28/2023
Showing Teens in Moldova and Transnistria the Path to God
Amber Schafer
8/28/2023
Flooding in Kherson Compounds the Devastation of War
Amber Schafer
8/17/2023
Your Support Allows Us to Nurture Children
Amber Schafer
8/17/2023
Help the Children Agricultural Project: Giving At-Risk Families Food Security
Amber Schafer
8/15/2023
Last Hope
Amber Schafer
8/11/2023
Bring Help and Smiles to Ukrainian Children
Amber Schafer
8/1/2023
Skepticism Erased
Amber Schafer
8/1/2023
Natalia's Story: Attention Drawn to God Through Difficult Circumstances
Amber Schafer
7/25/2023
Greater Sports Camp for the Gospel
Amber Schafer
7/17/2023
Simplicity and Faithfulness
Amber Schafer
7/12/2023
Mila Finds Meaning in Life
Amber Schafer
6/26/2023
Help the Children: My Second Home
Amber Schafer
6/26/2023
Bringing Refugees Back to the Path of Hope
Amber Schafer
6/20/2023
Developing Young Leaders Through Bible Clubs
Amber Schafer
6/15/2023
God Changes Character
Amber Schafer
6/8/2023
Character Development Through Adventure Camp
Amber Schafer
6/1/2023
Why Volunteer?
Amber Schafer
6/1/2023
Ukraine War Update
Amber Schafer
6/1/2023
Karina’s Family Finds Help and Friendship at a Church in Ukraine
Amber Schafer
5/30/2023
Summer Break = Time for Bible Clubs
Amber Schafer
5/30/2023
The Russian Invasion: A Catalyst for Drawing People Into a Restored and Redeemed Relationship with
Amber Schafer
5/24/2023
A Different Life Picture is Taking Shape Through the Children of the Street Program
Amber Schafer
5/23/2023
Simple Things Bring About Great Change for Displaced Ukrainians
Amber Schafer
5/16/2023
Not Your Average Dream Come True!
Amber Schafer
5/11/2023
Like the Sun Shining in My Heart
Amber Schafer
5/8/2023
Inside Church Without Walls
Amber Schafer
4/25/2023
Vika Finds Hope Through Church Without Walls
Amber Schafer
3/30/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Strength to Serve
Amber Schafer
3/20/2023
Lida's Story
Amber Schafer
3/15/2023
A Review of Ministry in 2022
Amber Schafer
3/7/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: The Lord is Touching the Hearts of People
Amber Schafer
3/6/2023
The Significant Influence of Mentoring
Amber Schafer
3/2/2023
A Nebraska Grandmother Helps Bring Joy to Ukrainian Refugee Children
Amber Schafer
3/1/2023
Elena Finds Hope in an Unfamiliar Place
Amber Schafer
2/22/2023
God Changes Hearts
Amber Schafer
2/20/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Salt and Light
Amber Schafer
2/16/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Thank you for your continued remembrance and support
Amber Schafer
2/9/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: We Sincerely Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve
Amber Schafer
2/2/2023
The Joy of Seeing
Amber Schafer
1/31/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Precious Contributions
Amber Schafer
1/17/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: God is touching many lives through your help!
Amber Schafer
1/5/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: The Darker it is, the Greater the Need for Light.
Amber Schafer
1/4/2023
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: When We Care for God's Kingdom, He Cares for Us
Amber Schafer
12/19/2022
Jesus Was a Refugee Too
Amber Schafer
12/19/2022
Loving and Helping Ukrainian Refugees this Christmas
Amber Schafer
12/15/2022
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: The Lord is Working Miracles
Amber Schafer
12/14/2022
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: You Helped Us Expand Our Boundaries
Amber Schafer
12/13/2022
Snapshot From The Church Network In Ukraine: Maintaining Relationships
Amber Schafer
12/6/2022
Snapshot from the Church Network in Ukraine: Sharing Spiritual and Physical Food
Amber Schafer
11/29/2022
Snapshot from the Church Network in Ukraine: Thank You for Your Encouragement!
Amber Schafer
11/28/2022
She Saw it as a Miracle!
Amber Schafer
11/10/2022
Backpacks for Refugee Children
Amber Schafer
11/8/2022
Olga: A Refugee Sharing Faith
Amber Schafer
11/3/2022
Attention, Care and Love
Amber Schafer
10/27/2022
Serving and Helping Together
Amber Schafer
10/19/2022
Zinaida and Ruslan: At First They Were Skeptical
Amber Schafer
10/5/2022
Tanya: A Ukrainian Refugee Finds Support Through the Local Church
Amber Schafer
9/22/2022
Andrey: A Refugee Boy’s First Step on the Path of Spiritual Awakening
Amber Schafer
9/22/2022
Thank You for Responding to the Needs of Ukrainians
Amber Schafer
9/14/2022
Zhanna: She Did Not Want to Hear Anything About the Church
Amber Schafer
9/14/2022
A Refugee Family Thanks Our Partner in Transnistria
Amber Schafer
9/14/2022
Tanya: Serving God by Working with Children
Amber Schafer
9/1/2022
Olga: This Program is the Best Way to Tell Children About Jesus
Amber Schafer
8/11/2022
Alla: This Church Has Become Like Family to Us
Amber Schafer
8/10/2022
Varya: Serving Children with a Heart Full of Love
Amber Schafer
8/4/2022
Olena: This Is My Story!
Amber Schafer
7/27/2022
Your Support Helped Refugee, Zlata, Receive a Food Package!
Amber Schafer
7/12/2022
Katya's Family Receives Shelter and Support from Help The Children
Amber Schafer
7/7/2022
Reaching the Hearts of Children and Refugees
Amber Schafer
6/28/2022
Seeking Hope and Security
Amber Schafer
6/22/2022
Refugees Receive Care and Support
Amber Schafer
6/7/2022
Refugees Experience the Care of the Local Church
Amber Schafer
5/31/2022
Your Care Makes a Difference in Wartime
Amber Schafer
5/19/2022
Fear to Faith
Amber Schafer
5/13/2022
A Seed Planted
Amber Schafer
5/2/2022
Opening Arms to Help Hurting Neighbors from Ukraine
Amber Schafer
4/26/2022
Practical Help to Refugees of War
Amber Schafer
4/12/2022
Refuge from War is Found at Churches in Ukraine
Amber Schafer
4/4/2022
Helping Refugees from Ukraine Through the Help The Children Charity
Amber Schafer
3/31/2022
Transnistrian Partners Serve Like “The Good Samaritan”
Amber Schafer
3/30/2022
The Ukrainian Church is Serving in a Time of War
Amber Schafer
3/28/2022
Maybe There is a God!
Amber Schafer
3/17/2022
Help the Children is Providing Women and Children a Haven from the War
Amber Schafer
3/11/2022
Simple Blankets, Big Impact
Amber Schafer
2/24/2022
1,737 Children Hear About Jesus Through Bible Clubs
Amber Schafer
2/7/2022
Extreme Activities and Camping Make an Eternal Impact in the Lives of Teens
Amber Schafer
1/24/2022
Larisa's Family Is Helped Through The Local Church
Amber Schafer
12/14/2021
Reaching Neighborhood Youth Through Sports
Amber Schafer
12/14/2021
Family Food Pack Update
SMI Staff
10/5/2021
Vlad Gets Help Navigating Life
Amber Schafer
8/4/2021
Thanks from Children of the Street
SMI Staff
8/3/2021
A Relationship Leads to Discipleship
Amber Schafer
8/1/2021
“The Foundation of My Life Was Laid” Through Bible Clubs
Amber Schafer
6/1/2021
2020 in Retrospect
Esley Patsch, Founder
4/1/2021